State of the World's Mothers 2014

Our new State of the World’s Mothers report scores 178 countries on mothers’ and children’s health, educational, economic and political status. Unfortunately South Africa only ranks 75 and conditions for mothers and their children in the bottom ranked countries are even more grim.

Each day, an estimated 800 mothers and 18,000 young children die from largely preventable causes.

56 percent of maternal and child deaths take place in conflict zones or emergency situations.

We can't make this issue sexy, but these models tried:

Maternal deaths and child mortality can be dramatically cut when efforts are made to improve services for mothers and children. We urgently need to increase access to healthcare in places where state capacity is weak and conflict and insecurity is widespread. All children have the right to survive, no matter where they are born. Many of these deaths are avoidable, and we can help to prevent them with the right plans and investments before, during, and after a crisis has hit or fighting has intensified.